Shoe-rack.



LIS. BUNKER.

lSHOE RACK.

APPLICATION F|1En1u1v13.1914.

Patente-(1J uly 25, 1916. 2 QHEETS-SHEET l J. S. BUNKER.

SHOE RACK.

APPLlcATloN FILED lum/13.1914.

Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` Wirt/www0 JAMES S. BUNKER, F CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Application filed July 13, 1914. Serial No. 850,578.

To all w hom t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES S. BUNKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chester, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe racks, the object of the invention being to provide a rack of the character stated composed of metal which is adapted to support the shoes in various positions entirely separated from each other, and which is so constructed as to economize space and facilitate the handling of the shoes.

A further object is to provide a shoe rack comprising a plurality of .vertical series of shoes supporting slatted trays, the trays of one series having staggered relationship with the trays of the other series, and both series having a common support, whereby the rack may be readily moved from place to place.

A further object is to provide a rack which is of extremely simple, inexpensive construction, strong and durable in use, and one which is entirely fire-proof, and by reason thereof resulting in a reduction of the cost of insurance in factories where it is employed.

llith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinatio-ns and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section on an enlarged scale on Y the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in cross section on an enlarged scale illustrating one of the slats having a protecting covering.

My improved shoe rack is provided at both ends with a plurality of vertical angle bars 1, and while my invention is not limited to any particular number of anglebarsfor other connecting bars, l have illustrated my improved rack as having four of these angle bars which are connected at their lower ends by longitudinal horizontal bars 2, the structure at the corner being strengthened by gusset plates 3, end plates 4, and bottom plates 5. Casters 6 are connected to the bottom plates and facilitate the manipulation of the rack about the floor.

' The vertical angle bars 1 are connected by horizontal trays 7 These trays each consist of parallel longitudinal bars 8 connected by inverted V-shaped slats 9, the edges of the bars being turned back as shown at 10 to strengthen the bars and to present smooth surfaces to the shoes. The free edges of the slats are also bent inwardly 'as shown at 19 to present rounded smooth surfaces to the shoe. lVhile the slats may, of course, be connected to the bars in various ways, one convenient method is to provide anges ll on the ends of the slats and secure them by spotwelding or otherwise to the bars 8.

At'the ends of thetrays, slats 12 connect the side bars 8, and these end slats, while they have one inclined face 13 corresponding to the inclination of the face of the slat 9, their upper portions are horizontal as shown at 14, and are cut out or recessed as shown at l5 to receive the angle bar l intermediate the ends of the slat.

It will be noted, particularly by reference to F lgs. 2 and 3, that the trays are appreciably narrower than the rack, and that while the trays connect three end bars 1, one vertical series of trays has a staggered relationship to the other vertical series of trays, so that the shoes indicated in dotted lines at 16 canbe accommodated by all of the trays, and the uppers of the shoes will have ample space at the sides of others of the trays, so that a compact rack is formed. The trays of one series connect the outside bars 1 with the third bar therefrom, and the end slats 12 are recessed as shown at l5 to receive the second bar 1. By reason of this construction, it is not necessary to extend one pair of vertical standards 1 as high as the others, yet the trays serve to rigidly connect all of the end bars, and insure a strong and durable structure. While, of course, my improved rack is not limited to any particular process of handling the shoes, it is desirable that the shoes have three relative positions during their course of manu facture.

In Fig. 4, I illustrate in dotted lines the three positions, the first position beginning at the right, shows the shoe before the sole is secured thereto. The second position shows the sole in place, and the third or inverted position, shows the shoe after the sole is finished or polished and in position for drying. In all of these positions, the shoes can be maintained apart and the drying operation is facilitated without any danger of one shoeinjuring another or being injured by the rack.

In Fig. 5, I illustrate one of the slats 9 inclosed in a cover 17 which may be of felt or yother suitable material positioned around the slat and having its ends connected by snap buttons 18. Such a cover may be desirable in some cases to protect the shoe from contact with the metal, and when desired, the covers can be readily secured in place on the slats.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at libertyfto make such changes and alterations as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A metal shoe rack, comprising a' plurality of end bars disposed vertically, two

Copies of this patent may be obtained for vertical series of shoe supporting` trays connecting the end bars, the trays of one series interposed between and having staggered relationship vto the trays of the other series,

. each of said trays comprising parallel bars,

and a series of slats secured at their respecbetween the slats, said slats composed of 1 sheet metal having inwardly turned lower rounded edges, and a cover for each slat, each cover positioned around the sloping sides of the Slat and connected at a point below the slat, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof' I have signed my name Vto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. .minis s. BUNKER.

Vitnesses:

M. E. Dir'rUs, CHAs. E. Porrs.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, I). C. 

